Fishing reports
7384 reports across all 50 states — current conditions and what's biting.
Sea Bass Red Hot and Fluke Rebounding as Full-Moon Tides Hit Jersey Shore
Sea bass fishing is on fire along the Jersey Shore, with Blue Chip Sportfishing reporting limits on nearly every trip and shark action running hot alongside. Makos have been caught and released this week. Fluke is back on the upswing after last week's upwelling, per OTW Northern New Jersey's June 25 report; Capt Ron's Atlantic Highlands is landing quality keepers up to 5 lb 2 oz, with gulp sand eels and plain bait outperforming jigs. Stripers are still responding to clams in the surf and bluefish are mixed in, per Grumpys Tackle. The big offshore development: Fishermans HQ LBI reports a squid invasion has drawn bluefin tuna within 20 to 30 miles of the coast, making offshore runs shorter than typical. Capt Ron's has logged surface temps between 64 and 66 degrees this week. Tonight's full moon brings the month's strongest tidal surges. Prime time to position on moving water.
Full Moon Fuels Delaware River Catfish; Pine Barrens Bass Retreat to Cover
NJ Fish & Wildlife confirms seasonal closures at five Wildlife Management Areas remain in effect through September 7 — verify access before heading out. No real-time USGS gauge data or water temperatures were available for this report, an honest limitation that constrains how precisely we can characterize current conditions. With that caveat noted, late June on the Delaware River corridor historically signals peak channel catfish action: full moon nights drive the overnight bottom bite into high gear, and tidal reaches of the lower river see baitfish concentrated at current transitions around the tide change. Smallmouth bass on the upper, non-tidal river are in an early-summer rhythm — active on rocky riffles and ledge structure at dawn, retreating to deeper lies as midday heat climbs. In the Pine Barrens, acid-stained waters have warmed through June, pushing largemouth tight to shade and timber while pickerel enter their typical midsummer lull. No freshwater-specific tackle-shop or charter reports from this corridor were available in this cycle.
Fluke Rebounding and Weakfish Showing as Full Moon Arrives in Delaware Bay
Fluke fishing has bounced back across New Jersey coastal waters following last week's upwelling, with OTW Northern New Jersey's June 25 report noting the bite is 'back on the upswing.' Grumpys Tackle backs that with reports of fluke responding to bucktails and flavored soft baits in the bays, while surf stripers have returned to clam rigs after a quiet stretch. Perhaps the most welcome news: a couple of weakfish have surfaced in bay waters, per Grumpys Tackle, a species deeply tied to Delaware Bay fishing heritage. Bluefish are mixed in alongside fluke in bay and inlet areas, per Fishermans HQ LBI. Blue crab hauls off local docks remain solid this week. No NOAA buoy data was available for Delaware Bay water temperatures; Capt Ron's Atlantic Highlands logged mid-60s °F in northern NJ as a nearby benchmark. Tonight's full moon will push strong tidal flow through the bay, historically prime timing for weakfish in the cuts.
Sea Bass Limits, Fluke Rebound, and Mako Sharks Opening Up Off Jersey
Capt Ron's Atlantic Highlands is logging water at 65.7 degrees as fluke finally show quality off the bay grounds, with a 5-pound 2-ounce doormat claiming the pool last week and several customers landing three-fish limits using simple bait rigs and gulp sand eels. The bite had been grindy earlier; short counts dominated early trips. OTW Northern New Jersey's June 25 report confirms ocean fluking is back on the upswing after last week's upwelling pushed fish deeper. Black sea bass are the headline story closer to structure: Blue Chip Sportfishing calls the bite "red hot," reporting near-limits on almost every charter. Shark fishing has "busted wide open" per Blue Chip, with multiple Mako releases in recent days. The striper surf bite rebounded into the weekend, with Grumpys Tackle (NJ) reporting bass taking clams off the beach and a couple of weakfish in the catch. Bluefish are also in the mix along the shoreline, per OTW Northern New Jersey.
Tarpon Migration at Full Stride; Permit and Cobia Fill the Gulf Coast Bite
Naples Offshore Fishing Charters reports the tarpon migration is fully underway, with captains intercepting quality fish on morning runs before switching to sight-fishing large permit in the afternoons. Cobia, amberjacks, and kingfish are also showing in the offshore mix per the same captains, making this one of the more dynamic multi-species stretches the Gulf Coast sees all year. Inshore, Coastal Angler Magazine highlights black drum catches from North Fort Myers and redfish out of Pine Island Sound. Salt Strong notes that summer high tides push redfish tight into shoreline cover, with fish abandoning open flats for mangrove edges and grass lines when water is up. With a full moon tonight driving strong tidal swings through the next several days, anglers who can time their launches around peak current windows are set up well. Kingfish on plugs and flies rounds out an active bite for those who prefer casting over anchoring on bottom.
Georgia River Bass Lock Into Summer Patterns as July Approaches
The Georgia Wildlife Blog's June 26 fishing report confirms summer conditions are firmly established across Georgia's freshwater systems, with the agency directing anglers to its angler resources page for current trout stocking schedules and species-specific forecasts. No USGS gauge or NOAA buoy readings were available for the Chattahoochee or Savannah drainages this cycle, so specific water temperatures cannot be confirmed. Throughout the spring, the Georgia Wildlife Blog promoted the Georgia Bass Slam and Trout Slam challenges, signaling that black bass and trout remain the primary freshwater targets statewide. Wired 2 Fish notes that southern bass anglers heading into July are finding fish split between deep offshore structure and early-morning shallow flats, with topwater drawing aggressive strikes at dawn and dusk. A full moon this week extends low-light bite windows. Anglers targeting tailwater trout on the upper Chattahoochee should consult the Georgia Wildlife Blog's angler resources page for the most current stocking update before making the trip.
Lake Ontario kings firing strong; Salmon River awaits fall run
Strike Zone Charters (Lake Ontario) is reporting that salmon fishing has been "very good" this past week, with brown trout and lake trout mixing in throughout catches. Kings are concentrated in 100 to 160 feet of water, though preferred depth shifts daily as wind-driven temperature changes move the thermocline. Per Strike Zone Charters, Mag Dipsey Divers are producing when the bite runs deeper, with green, white, and chartreuse e-chips paired with Atomic-style attractors as the presentation of the moment. No USGS gauge readings or NOAA buoy data were collected for this cycle, so current water temperatures and river flows on the Salmon River and Oswego River are unknown. Both tributaries are in a natural pause between seasonal runs: spring steelhead have retreated to the lake, and the fall chinook migration to the river systems typically does not begin in earnest until late August. Tonight's full moon may extend productive trolling windows into low-light hours.
Bluefin Tuna Firing Offshore; New Shark Rules Reshape SoCal Shore Game
A reader-submitted report in Western Outdoor News — Saltwater describes a kayak angler punching through 5-foot surf off Gaviota to land a quality white seabass, signaling the Channel Islands corridor is still delivering for committed anglers. Offshore, Western Outdoor News — Saltwater reports the bluefin tuna bite has reemerged roughly 1.5-day-trip range due west of Point Loma, with the Old Glory recently boating 16 bluefin alongside a daylight triple hookup on opah. Night jigging is reportedly the stronger play for bigger fish on longer trips. On the summer flats, Saltwater Sportsman notes barred sand bass concentrate in large numbers along SoCal coastal flats as June turns to July. Shore anglers face a critical regulatory shift: the California Fish and Game Commission unanimously approved an emergency regulation on June 17 banning wire leaders and hooks over 1.5 inches within 1,000 yards of shore from Pigeon Point south, per Surf Fishing in So Cal. Verify current regulations before your next outing.
Delaware Bay Stripers Push Deep as Summer Settles In
Saltwater Edge Blog (RI) flagged this week that late June marks the point when stripers migrate out to deeper, cooler oceanfront water across the Northeast, trading the nearshore spring bite for summer structure along channel edges and rips. That pattern applies to Delaware Bay as well, where fish following baitfish concentrations are best targeted off channel drop-offs rather than the shallows. On The Water identifies glide baits as the top striper presentation of 2026, displacing topwaters for larger fish. Delaware Surf Fishing reports that nearly 200 feet of the Cape Henlopen Fishing Pier end is now closed, a meaningful logistics note for shore anglers. No buoy data was available for this report, leaving water temperature unconfirmed. With today's full moon driving the month's strongest tidal exchanges in Delaware Bay, current-seam windows at the flood and ebb transitions are where the action tends to concentrate. Check current DNREC striper slot regulations before heading out, as the summer season rules typically take effect around July 1.
Full Moon Stripers Build Along the NH Coast as River Bite Winds Down
The Merrimack River striper bite is largely finished for the season, per The Fisherman — South Shore MA to ME, with just a few stragglers left at the river mouth. Action has shifted to Joppa Flats, where tube-and-worm trollers are pulling the most consistent catches, and off the beaches where a low-40-inch class fish was recently reported. Charter reports from the Gloucester and Rockport corridor, via the same source, are logging mid-40-inch class stripers both inshore and offshore, with mackerel schools driving the feed on most trips. Correspondents in Maine are now seeing a strong push of larger fish, confirming the Gulf of Maine migration is tracking north through NH waters. On The Water flags glide baits as the breakout striper presentation of 2026, with large profiles and swimming action drawing fish that classic topwaters are missing. Full moon tonight sets up the month's biggest tidal swings along inlet edges and rip lines, prime timing to stack the odds.
Hatteras surf loaded with jumbo blues as Spanish macks push nearshore
Bigger bluefish are the headline on the Outer Banks right now. Tom of Hatteras Jack, as reported by Fisherman's Post (NC), is flagging fish reaching 30-plus inches hammering casting metals and cut baits right in the Hatteras surf, with sea mullet fishing holding steady alongside them. Spanish mackerel have made a strong push along the beachfront: Fisherman's Post (NC) notes good numbers arriving in the nearshore zones from Swansboro to Morehead City, and the bluefish bite across that same stretch remains exceptional. Inshore, red drum are scattered but showing up in deeper holes, per Rich of Chasin' Tails out of Morehead/Atlantic Beach. Offshore, the Tidelines column in Fisherman's Post flagged gaffer mahi moving into range out of Beaufort Inlet as June opened, and that opportunity should hold through July. The full moon tonight delivers amplified tidal swings, setting up ideal surf-fishing transitions at first and last light.
Bass and Stripers Settle Into Summer Depth at SML and Buggs Island
Wired 2 Fish's July 2026 lure roundup confirms a pattern playing out across the country that tracks closely with conditions at Smith Mountain Lake and the John H. Kerr Reservoir (Buggs Island): bass are "out deep on shad" following the post-spawn dispersal, with some fish still holding shallow chasing bream. No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings were available for this report, leaving water temperature unconfirmed — check current readings before heading out. Tactical Bassin notes that bass "metabolisms are at an all-time high" in July, with fish splitting between shallow cover during low-light windows and deeper offshore structure through the heat of the day. Tonight's full moon sets up extended nighttime feeding for striped bass and catfish at both reservoirs, making after-dark outings worth planning. Crappie have likely retreated to deep timber and brush piles as the summer doldrums settle in — typical for these Virginia piedmont lakes once surface temperatures climb.
Hawaiian Islands Offshore Season Peaks as Full Moon Window Opens
Hawaii Fishing News, the state's official record-keeper for Hawaiian fish catches, publishes a dedicated moon and tide calendar as a central planning tool for island anglers — and the June 30 full moon lands squarely in what is typically the most productive offshore window of the year. No active NOAA buoy readings or on-water dispatches from island sources are available in this report cycle, so real-time bite conditions cannot be confirmed. What the season tells us: late June sits at the heart of blue marlin season in Hawaiian waters, with ahi (yellowfin tuna) and mahimahi (mahi-mahi) running consistently offshore through summer. Ono (wahoo) remain a steady year-round target on the troll. Anglers planning offshore trips should connect with local charter captains or tackle shops for real-time conditions before departing, as the Hawaiian offshore bite can shift rapidly with current lines and sea surface temperature breaks.
Snook Schools Pack Stuart Inlet as Dredge Pause Brings Fish Back
Large schools of snook have returned to the St. Lucie Inlet near Stuart following a pause in dredging operations, per Snook Nook's July 2026 report. Anglers with side-scan sonar are marking large concentrations around the detached jetty and the Hole in the Wall, with live baits — Croakers, Pilchards, and similar presentations — the clear choice for getting bites. Note that the Atlantic snook season is closed through August 31; all fish must be released. Offshore, CCA Florida reports a U.S. District Court issued a preliminary injunction blocking Florida's South Atlantic red snapper Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) program, halting the state-managed recreational season before it could open — anglers targeting snapper should confirm current FWC guidance before heading out. Tarpon and redfish remain typical summer staples along this stretch of coast, though no specific local source reported on their activity this week. The full moon is producing strong tidal movement through inlets and passes, a timing window worth planning your trip around.
Sarasota Bay Seatrout in Peak Summer Form as Tarpon Stay Aggressive
Spotted seatrout are delivering peak summer action across Sarasota Bay, with Capt. Brandon Naeve of CB's Saltwater Outfitters reporting fish hitting aggressively on inshore grass flats, mangrove shorelines, and local passes. Capt. Rick Grassett's July forecast from CB's confirms tarpon remain a strong target entering the month, with July fish typically running more committed than earlier-season schools; spin anglers are working travel lanes at first light with live baits under floats. Shark action is at seasonal highs as well: Naeve reports Bull Sharks, Blacktips, and Lemon Sharks regularly showing in Sarasota Bay and nearshore Gulf waters. Redfish also made an appearance, with Capt. Chuck Cress of CB's reporting a red caught and released at an upper Sarasota Bay oyster bar alongside bluefish and mullet. No live buoy or gauge readings are available this cycle. The full moon on June 30 will drive strong tidal swings through the passes in the days ahead.
Smallmouth bass lead the Moosehead bite as summer arrives
Freshwater fishing across the Northeast has settled into what Fishin' Factory 3 described via The Fisherman's New England Freshwater as "summertime mode" — a pattern that closely tracks what anglers on Moosehead Lake and the upper Penobscot typically see in late June. Trout have gone quiet at popular venues while bass fishing has shifted to early-morning and late-evening windows with topwaters, soft plastics, and shiners. No buoy or gauge data was returned for this region, and no Moosehead- or Penobscot-specific shop, charter, or state-agency reports appeared in this cycle's intel feeds. That said, the seasonal calendar points clearly: smallmouth bass are the headline freshwater target right now, feeding aggressively on rocky points and submerged structure through the post-spawn period. Lake trout (togue) and landlocked salmon are retreating toward the thermocline as surface temperatures climb toward their summer peaks. Tonight's full moon may extend productive low-light windows through dawn.
Full-moon walleye and summer bass headline Lake Erie's late-June window
Great Lakes Now's recent coverage of quadrillions of quagga mussels reshaping the Lake Erie food web underscores a shift anglers have felt for years: baitfish concentrations have moved, and so have the walleye and perch that chase them. No buoy or gauge readings came through for this update, so current water temperatures are unconfirmed — check conditions before launching. With the full moon peaking on June 30, walleye feeding windows should tighten around low-light periods at dawn and dusk over the next several days. Fishing the Midwest identifies weedline edges as the dominant summer presentation zone across Great Lakes fisheries, with fish transitioning off post-spawn shallows and settling on outside breaks in 15 to 25 feet. Presque Isle Bay's protected weedy shallows remain a reliable summer address for largemouth bass and yellow perch. No charter or tackle-shop reports were available for this cycle; species outlooks reflect seasonal baselines, not confirmed on-the-water finds.
Eastern WA Summer Bite Peaks as Full Moon Rounds Out June
WA WDFW Fishing Reports confirms statewide creel monitoring and fish stocking are active as Eastern Washington hits its peak summer fishing window. No gauge or buoy data was available for this report cycle, so conditions draw on seasonal patterns for the Yakima and Spokane drainages. Late June typically finds lower-elevation rivers warming and pushing trout into shaded riffles and early-morning feeding lies. Hatch Magazine's recent feature on bull trout ethics across the Northwest is a timely reminder that sensitive salmonids share some Eastern WA headwaters, so handle incidental catches with care and check current WDFW regulations before targeting. Smallmouth bass on the Columbia and Spokane River systems are entering summer prime, with aggressive feeding tied to low-light periods. Tonight's full moon shifts the best bite windows to dawn and dusk across both river and lake fisheries throughout the region.
Summer Chinook and Steelhead Window Opens Across Washington River Systems
WA WDFW Fishing Reports confirms the department is actively monitoring fishing access sites statewide and maintaining hatchery stocking programs heading into the peak summer season — though specific creel counts and on-the-water conditions for the Columbia and Puget Sound river corridors were not available in this cycle's data feed. No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge readings were transmitted, so current water temperatures and flow rates cannot be verified; anglers should pull live conditions from the WDFW and USGS sites before heading out. Seasonally, late June is a key transition window for Washington freshwater fisheries: summer Chinook are historically staging in the lower Columbia and working into mainstem holding water, summer steelhead are pushing into both Columbia and Puget Sound drainages, and smallmouth bass on the Columbia typically enter their best warm-water feeding window. A full moon this week can shift salmon holding behavior, favoring very early-morning or dusk sessions. Check WDFW creel data before making the drive.
Toledo Bend bass dial in for peak summer topwater window
Louisiana Sportsman's June 29 piece on Toledo Bend opens with contributor Matthew Loetscher's prediction that 'if this month is anything like past Julys at Toledo Bend, it'll be a pretty darned good month for bass fishing.' That outlook aligns with broader South-wide intel from B.A.S.S. News, which reports a prime topwater bite across the region right now, including sustained action on Sam Rayburn Reservoir nearby. With the full moon landing June 30, bass should push shallower in low-light windows — plan dawn and dusk runs along hydrilla edges and flooded timber flats for the best surface action. Wired 2 Fish's July bait roundup points to hollow-body frogs, buzzbaits, and wake baits as the go-to presentations this month across the South. No gauge data is currently available for the Sabine River inflows, so confirm flow conditions locally before running the upper arms. Catfish remain a reliable overnight option on deep channel breaks.
Bull reds on at Saint Simons as trout and flounder bite picks up
Mike Sapp's bull redfish landed at Saint Simons last weekend signals that the Georgia Atlantic Coast is fishing well in late June, per GA Sportsman / Georgia Outdoor News contributor Joshua Barber's June 27 report. Barber also notes that the spotted seatrout and flounder bite has been picking up across the region, a welcome trend heading into the Fourth of July stretch. Heat is the operative factor right now: Barber explicitly cautions anglers to stay hydrated, with temperatures running punishing on the water this week. No NOAA buoy readings are available for this report period, but the Altamaha River at Doctortown was running 9.5 feet and rising as of June 25, signaling elevated freshwater runoff into the coastal estuaries that could push fish toward nearshore grass edges and structure. Tonight's full moon brings the largest tidal swings of the month, conditions that historically concentrate bait along current seams and trigger aggressive redfish and seatrout feeding at the right stage.
Bull Reds on the Popping Cork as Full Moon Tides Surge Through the Delta
Sport Fishing Mag's roundup of top bull redfish destinations singles out Louisiana — and Venice specifically — as one of the only regions where bull reds are a genuine year-round target. Capt. Mike Frenette of The Redfish Lodge of Louisiana in Venice favors brightly colored popping-cork rigs, a setup that keeps baits in the strike zone and draws oversized reds up to feed. With tonight's full moon driving the season's strongest tidal swings across Delta marshes and coastal passes, the next 48 hours set up as a prime feeding window along marsh edges and open-water rips. Salt Strong notes that summer high tides push redfish off open flats and tight into shoreline cover — grass lines, dock pilings, and flooded marsh interior — making precise lure placement the key variable. No buoy data was available to confirm current water temperatures, but late June historically puts inshore Louisiana waters in the low-to-mid 80s°F, which tends to concentrate speckled trout in deeper, shaded structure during the midday heat.
California Delta Bass and Stripers Transition to Full Summer Patterns
No real-time gauge or buoy readings are available for the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta this cycle, so confirming current flows and temperatures via USGS before launching is advisable. On the technique side, Tactical Bassin's early-summer California bass coverage shows largemouth dividing between shallow tule cover and deeper channel structure as heat intensifies, with soft jerkbaits, Neko rigs, and drop shots accounting for fish when midday pressure pushes bass off the bank. Wired 2 Fish's July outlook notes bass relating to current and offshore structure nationwide as summer patterns solidify — a dynamic that maps directly onto the Delta's tidal channels and submerged points. Tonight's full moon is worth planning around: catfish and striped bass in tidal Delta water typically feed through the night during full-moon cycles, particularly on outgoing current near slough mouths and bridge pilings. Without local-specific reports this cycle, species assessments below reflect seasonal inference rather than verified on-the-water testimony.
Saginaw Bay walleye and perch settle into summer patterns at full moon
Direct on-water intel for Lake Huron and Saginaw Bay is thin this cycle — the MI DNR Weekly Fishing Report was inaccessible during compilation — so this update reflects seasonal norms for late June rather than fresh captain or shop reports. That said, late June on Saginaw Bay reliably delivers: walleye that staged in the shallower bay flats through spring typically slide to 15-to-25-foot transition structure as surface temperatures climb, and yellow perch remain a steady mid-summer draw. Fishing the Midwest notes that summer weedline edges are actively producing across Great Lakes region waters right now, and Saginaw Bay's abundant vegetation lines are a logical home for both walleye and bass. The June 30 full moon typically compresses the best bite into low-light windows — first light and dusk. No buoy or gauge data was available this cycle. Check your local forecast and the MI DNR Weekly Fishing Report directly before heading out.